Growers' Row: Mid-Winter Update

As surprising as it may seem, we’ve made a good deal of progress through this winter season! For those in our community who opted for a winter CSA share, how is it going? (There are only 3 distributions left, by the way!) The farm crew hopes that the experience has been great; from our perspective, this winter is already successful in terms of production, learning, and implementation of lots of new systems. It is a joy to provide such good food and to witness positive reactions from our winter shareholders.

In order to be productive and timely in distributing great produce, we've worked out plenty of systems this initial winter that keep greens and soil warm [enough] and to maintain proper humidity inside the greenhouses. We are also concerned with challenges as simple as an extremely muddy (or potentially snowy) driveway. Compared to the summer season, weather-related complications are more likely during the winter, and we've already learned a lot about preparing for them and about responding to problems. With the exception of vehicles stuck in the mud, frozen pants, and an underground irrigation leak, these two cold months have been smooth and productive on the farm.

These months have not been all cold and potential problems, of course. There are many friends! In the strong tradition of PFP, we are joined when we need the support by folks from the summer and from past seasons, helping us to complete big harvests of fresh greens (even on frigid days). This support has also allowed everybody to take vacations without holding up harvest, distribution, or maintenance. THANK YOU for your labor and for bringing extra warmth to the greenhouses!

The farm, covered in a light blanket of icy snow, is quite a peaceful place this time of year. The farm crew continues to tend the greenhouse beds and focus on the winter CSA, while also transitioning into planning mode for the summer growing season. The new greenhouses will bring plenty of change to the summer season, too, so look out for updates soon! We'll have plenty to share. 

Staff Highlight: Jamie Levato

Staff Highlight: Jamie Levato, Education Director (interviewed by Lee Anne Albritton)

Provide us with a brief description of your position at PFP.
I run PFP’s Education Department, and I work with Ellie Limpert, our Education Manager, to set the tone and agenda for our programs which are mainly focused on promoting healthy eating, gardening, and sustainable agriculture.

My role involves building relationships with all of our community partners, school personnel, PTAs, and other nonprofits. I coordinate our schedule and plan much of our professional development workshops.

What types of activities do you schedule?
On site field trips for school classes and other groups, school garden visits where PFP educators teach kids in their own gardens, cooking in the classroom workshops, family cooking workshops, and educational sessions at after school programs.

We also provide professional development for teachers and community educators at our three-day Summer Institute Using Gardens to Teach training for educators. We’ve expanded our offerings and now provide several other trainings throughout the year on-site and at regional conferences. In addition, we offer workshops on gardening, herbs, cooking, seed saving, and self-sufficiency for community members at the farm and at other sites in the community.

What's your background?
I grew up in Central Islip, Long Island. We had a garden in our back yard, with a nice strawberry patch, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and green beans and we had 16 chickens. We also had ducks and rabbits, which were more like pets, and a Mulberry tree that we would climb to harvest big colanders full of bright purple berries that my mom would make into Italian ices. I guess I fell in love with fresh hyper-local food as a child because it was so tasty.

What brought you to PFP?
My background is as a teacher. I went to SUNY New Paltz and got an MS in Literacy Education. While in college, I started gardening at the Gardens for Nutrition and fell in love w/ community gardening because of the interaction and sharing with my garden neighbors. Right after college, I worked for the Mid-Hudson Migrant Education Program working with children of migrant farm workers. Then I started working for Poughkeepsie City School District as a home-bound instructor teaching kids who were suspended or on medical leave. Those positons connected me to the Poughkeepsie community. When I saw a position that connected my educational background and my interests, I was thrilled at the possibility of teaching children through gardening and cooking.

What do you love most about your job?
I can’t choose one thing. I love the variety that I get to do, one day I’m teaching a group of kids, the next day I’m writing a grant, other days I’m training interns, leading a workshop for educators, developing curriculum. I really love the fact that we have a wide community impact because we’re working with youth, families, educators, and other community organizations. PFP’s community-based approach is exciting and powerful to me. Recently, I have been doing a lot of presentations around the region. I actually really enjoy speaking in front of groups. Many people fear public speaking more than death, but I fear death more than public speaking!

What do you love most about PFP?
I love our really strong team and the way we work in many different facets under the umbrella of food justice, providing nutritious local food to families through our CSA, and others with limited access.  I love working with our many community partners and other local and regional organizations to make food systems more equitable.

There are so many program and outreach activities that the Education Department presently offers, what has changed from when you started as a part-timer in 2010?
I was first hired as a part-time seasonal employee for 15 hours/week. Now, I work year-round and full time.  

When I started, we were primarily responding to requests – five field trips for the school year, and working with a few local summer camps, Green Teen, and Hudson River Housing’s River Haven youth shelter.

I was asked to build a partnership with Poughkeepsie schools, instead of just responding to requests, so that kids in Poughkeepsie could visit on a regular basis. That meant building relationships with principals, teachers, school secretaries, other staff, and administrators. We weren’t doing as much in the schools then, and there were very few school gardens. Now we’re in the schools beginning in February and continuing through December. When I started, we hosted two interns from Vassar during semester. In 2016, we hosted 24 interns from Vassar, the CIA, Russell Sage, SUNY New Paltz, Poughkeepsie Day School, and Poughkeepsie High School. We’ve also expanded the Seeds of Food System teen program, which used to just be a summer program, but now we’ve expanded it to a weekly six-month program. Visiting PFP is now part of growing up in Poughkeepsie!

I know you're very involved with social justice activism outside of PFP, what are some of those projects? 
Primarily, I’m working with several organizations on racial justice issues on the local and state level. What’s very exciting is that many of our local and regional farming organizations are committing to work towards racial justice in the food system.

Why do you consider racial justice so important?
Because we are all better off when there’s justice for everyone. Our entire society loses out on the human potential of our neighbors, when institutional racism limits opportunities for people of color. For many white people in our country, institutional racism can be virtually invisible, you can be oblivious if you don’t pay really close attention.

What do you do for leisure when you're not at PFP or saving the world?
I enjoy reading, baking, preserving food, gardening, hiking, going to movies, and traveling.

Anything we might not necessarily expect to know about you?
I recently started indoor rock climbing. I’m just a beginner and definitely not ready for outdoor climbing, yet.

Growers’ Row: An Update from the Farm Crew

By Patrick Lang

It has become awfully quiet at PFP in recent weeks! The regular CSA season ended quite nicely: mild November weather, lots of help from our field work students from Vassar, and one final burst of harvesting by volunteers, field work students, and Workshare members. Over 2 days, we harvested, washed, and packed 3,380 pounds of carrots alone! It was hard work, but was extremely satisfying.

We now turn entirely toward our first season of winter growing, and we are getting excited about the first winter CSA distribution. This is an especially exciting time considering the work that has gone into gearing up for providing food in the winter. Here are some of the necessary improvements we’ve been working on this fall to make winter growing a reality:

Leon in the new winter wash station

• We purchased an additional shipping container and converted it to a cooler. This allows us to store the thousands of pounds of storage vegetables (cabbage, carrots, radishes, rutabaga, potatoes, onions, and others) that were recently harvested, and it is now completely full.
• Conversion of our main cooler to a heated winter wash station. I certainly wouldn’t want to be dunking baby greens in ice-cold water in January. 
• We also acknowledge the possibility of lots of snow, and are purchasing a plow and snow blower for our tractor. It’s a big expense, but we’d be quite stuck without it. Literally.

There has also been much preparation of the soil in the greenhouses, as you can imagine. Peat moss was incorporated to provide fluffy texture and organic matter, and bed preparation and seed sowing was done this fall with much patience and care by Leon and Merle. This has resulted in a glorious setting for our winter work, as well as a consistent supply of amazing greens. This includes veggies that aren’t normally distributed during the regular season, including the red mustard greens shown below. That is my version of instant lunch when I am working at PFP – absolutely delicious.

Whether you are joining us for the winter CSA or just finishing up winter squash from this fall and excited for next season, we hope you keep tabs on us through the winter. I can at least promise far more photos of greens than one needs, all winter on Facebook and Instagram.

Revisiting a Beautiful Fall Day...

A crisp warm fall day provided the backdrop at Vassar Alumni House while over 200 participants took delight in tasting a wide variety of delicious local soups, crusty breads and delectable desserts donated by over 20 Hudson Valley restaurants and food vendors. Guests bid on over 70 donated silent auction and raffle items—ranging from framed art prints to kayak outings, from pottery bowls to drum lessons. Each Soup-A- Bowl ticket entitled the guest to select their favorite one of a kind bowl lovingly hand crafted by volunteers with the generous help of Art Centro. 

Through the bountiful donations of over 40 generous sponsors Poughkeepsie Farm Project’s 9 th annual Soup-A- Bowl raised approximately $25,000, breaking all previous records!

Monies raised will be used to fund PFP's education and outreach programs and its commitment to bring thousands of pounds of fresh produce to pantries, shelters and families in need through PFP’s vital Food Share program. 

Banners of sponsors and restaurants were proudly hung in the Great Hall where the Roundabout Ramblers had us dancing in our seats.

An army of volunteers (over 50) makes Soup-A- Bowl possible. Margery Groten and Tina Vaitkus co-chaired the event. Cathy and Terrence Coughlin make the magic happen in the kitchen, coordinating food donations, deliveries and service. Dan Pressler coordinated production of over 200 bowls from teaching the basics of throwing a bowl, to trimming, firing and glazing them. Tibby Fischer reached out to many of our numerous sponsors to help us reach our goal. She also donated the bright red PFP aprons worn by the volunteers! Zinnia Gutowski and Penny Dell organized the incredible array of silent auction and raffle items. Anita Kiewra coordinated all of the day of the event volunteers. Sven Thiessen posted updates on PFP’s Facebook page. And Zoe Lee made decorations and signs. PFP executive director Lee Anne Albritton and office manager Kate Dayton kept the gears oiled during the months of preparations and on the day of the event.

Thank you again to our generous sponsors!

Chard of Many Colors

Chard will always be there for you. Like a reliable friend, it is one of the greatest, and often least appreciated, of all the gifts from your local farmer.

Chard’s long, thick stalks have wide, glossy green leaves that may be smooth or curly, depending on the variety. The stalk comes in many colors, from white to green to brilliant red, yellow, and pink. At many farmers markets you’ll see the flashy Ruby Red and Bright Lights varieties. They are glamorous and hard to resist, but the old-fashioned varieties with white stems and green leaves are even tastier.

TRUE BLUE, EXCEPT IT’S GREEN

Not only is chard giving, it’s forgiving too. It’s much more heat-resistant than spinach, grows well under most weather and soil conditions, and is disease resistant and bug resistant too. After harvesting, the inner leaves come back quickly, so you’ll see chard at farmers markets from early June clear through Thanksgiving. And at PFP, we have it growing in our high tunnels for the Winter CSA Share! Because it’s always there, you might take it for granted, but, as with a good friend, you shouldn’t.

EASY, TASTY AND CONVENIENT

Chard is as close to perfect as a vegetable can get—a low-calorie, high-nutrition green with a mildly sweet, clean taste. It’s also a fast food. Tender young chard leaves can be eaten raw, adding a beet-like flavor to salads and sandwiches. Larger stalks and leaves can be blanched in boiling water, or sauteed up in a matter of minutes, quick and easy. Then toss the cooked chard into pasta with olive oil and garlic, add to omelets and frittatas, or use instead of spinach in your favorite recipe.

This article had been adapted from Farm Fresh Now! a project of The Land Connection. See below for two tasty winter chard recipes.

Pancetta, White Bean, and Chard Pot Pies from Smitten Kitchen

Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Gratin from Smitten Kitchen

For the Love of Vegetables

Sowing the Seeds of Life-Long Healthy Eating 

by Ellie Limpert

The minute a class of students step off of their school bus on to the farm, the excitement is palpable. The day may be grey, rainy, or even snowing, but the young pack of explorers can barely contain themselves because they know the next two hours hold adventure and discovery. Poughkeepsie Farm Project is a place that invites curiosity and unearths rich multisensory experiences. A place to marvel at the rising steam of a colorful compost mountain, celebrate beneficial insects and dance the honey-bee-waggle, a place where getting dirty is encouraged, and above all, vegetables are king.

As a passionate nutritionist dedicated to inspiring children to develop a taste for vegetables, I find myself in a very powerful position at PFP. It is rare that after digging up an octopus-like carrot, journeying through a kale forest, or discovering the zombie like effects of shredding a beet, children haven’t fallen in love with what our farmers grow. When children line up to leave the farm at the end of their visit we are often confronted with the same questions. From the children: “Can we LIVE HERE?” (it’s always assumed we live in the coop) “More More More More?!!” (referring to whatever vegetable we last tasted) and from myself and fellow educators: “Do they carry this enthusiasm home?!”.

For all those young vegetable enthusiasts who beg for more turnips and kale and wish to live in the spirit of the farm, and for our education team questioning the extent of their reach, we have developed a new and exciting program that works to bridge the gap between PFP and home: Farm Fresh Home Chefs. Farm Fresh Home Chefs is a family cooking workshop series that brings children and their caregivers together for a hands-on healthy-eating experience. During the first hour of these workshops adult participants receive a nutrition lesson while youth engage in a garden activity. Families come together for the last hour to cook together. In this hour together they discover new vegetables or celebrate familiar ones, share money-saving techniques and practice recipe modification, learn appropriate cooking tasks for all ages, and discover the joy of coming together over healthy food.

Fall of 2016 marks our third round of Farm Fresh Home Chefs and we couldn’t be more excited. Below is a story about the experience of a hard-working family of four who participated in Farm Fresh Home Chefs last fall.  May PFP continue to sow the seeds of little healthy eaters, and encourage a culture of life long healthy eating in Poughkeepsie.

Sam*, Tina*, Louis* (7th grade), Layla* (5th grade)

Sam and Tina are the epitome of hard working parents dedicated first and foremost to their children’s well-being. Though both would drop anything to ensure the safety and happiness of Louis, 7th grader at Poughkeepsie Middle School, and Layla, 5th grader at Krieger Elementary school, they have found some of their efforts in providing the best for their children to be quite a battle, namely, encouraging healthy food.  Participating in “Farm Fresh Home Chefs” (FFHC) a cooking and nutrition program offered by Poughkeepsie Farm Project, was Layla’s request, and Tina and her husband Sam jumped at the chance.

 After the first two hour class with FFHC, Tina and Sam could already sense their family’s change in attitude around vegetables.  They had just prepared a heart-healthy vegetable-heavy chili as a family that had the kids begging for more. In watching this, Sam exclaimed “Oh we are going to put on so many pounds in this program!” to which Tina responded “Gain weight? We are going to lose weight!” After several classes with FFHC, Sam was its number one advocate. “Our diets have changed dramatically because of this program. The kids aren’t only willing to try new things, but they come home from school eager to help. They even have their own night that they cook now. Fridays." Their one challenge is to make their dish fit Myplate recommendations. "We were not familiar with Myplate before this program and it is such a useful tool.” Eating healthy on a consistent basis takes time and dedication, and when the children join their parents as a team in the kitchen, the results are eye-opening. “I can’t believe such a fun, engaging, educational program that brings our family together is free.” Sam goes on, “It is invaluable. I want to be the first to know of any other program you offer because I will be there. Do you teach how to grow this food too? We want to start a garden.” 

*Names have been changed.

Farm Fresh Home Chefs is funded by United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region and The Jeannette F Schlobach Fund of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.

NYS Comptroller Highlights Poughkeepsie Farm-to-School in New Report

Mr. DiNapoli talks about the benefits of Farm-to-School programs in NYS.

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released his report “Locally Grown: Farm-to-School Programs in New York State” on Friday, October 21 at Clinton School in Poughkeepsie, NY. The report details hurdles school districts face when creating and sustaining such programs, outlines federal and state initiatives that are intended to encourage farm-to-school programs, and highlights six successful programs in NYS including the partnership between Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) and Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP).

Clinton students get ready to sample some locally-grown snacks.

PFP and PCSD have been collaborating on farm-to-school since 2013 to put local food into school meals and to provide Poughkeepsie students with engaging learning experiences surrounding the food system. On farm field trips, in school gardens, during cooking in the classroom sessions, and through cafeteria tastings of fresh local produce students learn to learn about growing and eating nutritious, local food. In schools, PCSD trials new recipes using locally-sourced ingredients to include in school lunches and conducts taste tests and surveys at school open houses and parent teacher-conferences, seeking feedback from students and parents about whether or not they enjoyed each dish. And in its Discovery Gardens, PFP leads Using Gardens to Teach, a workshop that helps educators integrate gardens into lessons about diverse subjects that align with learning standards while earning professional development credits.

A 4th grader at Clinton School talks about building the school garden at the Comptroller's press conference.

These activities are a few among many initiatives of the farm-to-school project collaboration between PFP and PCSD that seeks to introduce more fresh local produce into school meals and shift the culture of food among students, staff, and families. And the results are undeniable: PFP collected data on the effects of the farm-to-school activities on students’ vegetable consumption during school lunch and found that elementary students who participated in the program ate five times as much kale (by weight) as their peers who were not involved in farm visits and cooking workshops. In addition, 63% of students in the program group finished their serving of kale compared with only 8% of their peers who were not involved in the program and 1% of peers who were not involved and attended a different school. There are more locally-grown foods and NYS products in school meals and summer meals than before the program started.  Newly developed recipes are in regular rotation on school menus. Local foods, including root vegetables, kale, and squash are served to students every Tuesday. And, food service staff have received training in preparing fresh whole produce, developing recipes and promoting healthy choices.

Jamie talks about the successes of the Poughkeepsie Farm-to-School Program at Mr. DiNapoli's press conference.

“When PFP educators arrive at Poughkeepsie schools, the students exclaim with delight and ask what they will be tasting that day. Our partnership with Poughkeepsie schools is really changing what kids eat. When students have the opportunities to see where their food comes from while exploring farm fields, cooking simple healthy dishes, and learning their academic curriculum in farm and garden settings, they are more interested in eating local food in their school cafeterias, growing their own food at home, and teaching their families new recipes with local produce.”

~Jamie Levato, education director of Poughkeepsie Farm Project.

Clinton students show Mr. DiNapoli their school garden.

These positive results are crucial because, according to DiNapoli, “Interest in farm-to-school programs is widespread, but it’s not always easy for school districts across New York to bring fresh, locally produced foods to their students.” The report describes the challenges farmers can face in entering a farm-to-school market and competing in school food procurement. Farmers may not be aware of the publications in which schools post their request for bids, or may not be familiar with other aspects of the procurement process such as billing complexities. The expense of complying with food safety processes can also be a barrier, particularly for small vendors.

Jamie offers everyone a taste of the scarlet turnips. They were a big hit!

At the report-release at Clinton School, DiNapoli explored the new school garden, tasted some of the Farm-to-School recipes, and sampled some fresh PFP scarlet turnips with third and fourth grade students. DiNapoli challenged local communities and policymakers to use the findings to bolster Farm-to-School programs which bring local food into school cafeterias. The report’s recommendations include: looking to boards of cooperative educational services, which in some areas support farm-to-school programs, as a source of expert advice or an organizational home for efforts to emphasize local food purchases; providing training in planning and implementing successful farm-to-school programs to school district personnel; and supporting joint purchasing agreements among districts through the state farm-to-school grant program and examining the role of farm-to-school as regional food hubs grow across the state.

PFP’s work on Farm-to-School is funded by the USDA, United Way of Dutchess-Orange Region, and the Jane W. Nuhn Charitable Trust.

Healthy Food, Healthy Soil

By Patrick Lang

Patrick admires a healthy stand of sweet yellow clover, which is also adored by bees.

At PFP, we love our soil, and it’s no exaggeration to say that soil health is on our minds throughout the season. We maintain the fertility and health of our soil in several different ways; they are tailored to our soil type, which means that other farms could take quite a different approach. The main goals are:

• Ensuring proper levels of nutrients (including metals, nitrogen, boron, and others)
• Maintain a “crumb-like” soil structure
• Building and retaining organic matter in the soil (which has many, many benefits)
• Supporting the health of bees and beneficial insects, and suppressing weeds

This work begins very early in the season, and the first step is applying large quantities of toxic ammonia to all of the fields.

Not really. Ammonia is a synthetic nitrogen source used by mostly by much larger farms, but not by the PFP, where organic practices are followed. Concerning soil health and fertility, using organic methods means using only naturally-occurring fertilizers (including mined materials). Especially on small farms like ours, it also means using additional, “cultural” methods of maintaining soil health, including compost usage, mulching, and cover cropping.

Visiting 2nd graders took turns reaching into the giant compost pile to feel the warmth of decomposing leaves inside.

Our PFP soils produce beautiful and healthy food in part because fertilizer and compost are added. Veggies and fruits contain innumerable substances that maintain our health, including micronutrients, protein, and vitamins, and these materials (or their building blocks) come mostly from the soil. Since we are harvesting the veggies along with their stores of nutrition, fertility has to be returned to the soil. One way we do this is by adding an organic fertilizer that is tailored to our needs, which means it contains nitrogen sources as well as boron, a chemical element that is naturally low in PFP’s soil.

Compost is another major addition to our soils, and we’re lucky enough to receive heaps of leaf “waste” from the Town of Poughkeepsie, which is by far the major ingredient in our compost. Spread on the fields in March and occasionally throughout the season, leaf compost provides mostly carbon, which helps maintain high organic matter in our soils. This is seriously awesome, as I’ll explain soon. In addition, leaves contain micronutrients that trees mine from deep in the soil, making our compost a highly valued resource.

Some fertility/soil health tools do not involve adding fertility directly to the soil, and these are the “cultural” methods used by many organic farms; cover cropping is the one most often used at the PFP. How can I even attempt to describe the many complex benefits of cover cropping? I won’t. Instead, here are some commonly used (and my favorite) cover crops on our farm:

Mowing a tall stand of rye and hairy vetch is labor-intensive, but it supplies the soil with much beneficial carbon and nitrogen.

• Buckwheat grows rapidly, and is best used during the warm part of the season. Its densely-branching root system aerates the soil nicely, and it produces a stand of flowers that pollinators cannot resist. Just try to walk into a stand of buckwheat on a sunny day and try to count the bees. Impossible.
• Rye/Hairy Vetch is a combination of tall, rigid rye, and vetch, a legume that is a popular cover crop. Rye grows faster than vetch and provides the floppy legume with support once it becomes tall. Rye grows long roots that effectively mine nutrients deep in the soil, while vetch is a great nitrogen-fixer, meaning it converts nitrogen gas in the air to forms of nitrogen that plants can use. This combination will regrow after dying back in the winter, which makes it very versatile.
• Clover is a legume that exists in many varieties, and another crop in which you’re likely to find me admiring the bees. A strong nitrogen-fixer and miner of nutrients deep in the soil, clover is a very effective cover crop. Most varieties grow exceptionally slowly in their first season (a limitation), but the benefits of clover usually outweigh this inconvenience in timing.

All cover crops, by their very presence, reduce or prevent wind or water erosion, safeguarding precious topsoil. When they are tilled into the soil, they add organic matter, a highly decomposed form of carbon (they’re often called green manure). This stuff increases nutrient absorption, water retention, and air circulation in soil, and makes soil more hospitable to beneficial organisms, among other attractive qualities. Fertile soil with a good structure and plenty of organic matter is the foundation of a system that produces healthy and delicious food, and we’re always working on keeping this a reality. 

Carrots: Nutritional Powerhouse

Red, black, yellow, white, purple, green—these were the colors that wild carrots (also known as Queen Anne’s Lace) started out being – pretty much every color but orange! First cultivated in Afghanistan in the 7th century, the original domesticated carrot was purple outside and yellow inside, similar to the Purple Dragon carrots you see at local farmers markets.

COLORFUL AND DIVERSE

In the 1600's, the Dutch developed the orange carrot, but it was the French horticulturist Vilmorin-Andrieux who took the stubby Dutch carrot, and through crosses with wild carrots, finally produced the elongated, bright orange root we know today.

Now, when you buy from local farmers, you can get delicious carrots in all the colors of the rainbow. Along with different colors, you’ll find carrots of all shapes and sizes. Along with old favorites like Nantes, Imperator, and Danvers, there are tiny, almost round Thumbelinas, squatty Chantenays, and the long, elegant, light yellow Kimbi.

HEALTHY AND POWERFUL

It nearly goes without saying that carrots are good for you. How many times were you implored, “Eat your carrots! They’re good for your eyes!”

With a whopping dose of vitamin A (about 8,000 units per carrot) and lots of beta-carotene and other anti-oxidants, carrots are a nutritional powerhouse. They are also packed with high levels of potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, which help keep bones, nerves, and muscles functioning well. But the ocular claim is dubious.

According to Jane Grigson, the great English cookbook writer, during World War II, in order to encourage the consumption of carrots, one of the few foodstuffs not in short supply, the British authorities spread the rumor that fighter pilots consumed vast quantities of carrots to enable them to see in the dark. And from that propaganda, countless mothers on both sides of the Atlantic have implored countless children to eat their carrots.

FARM FRESH FIGHTERS

Today it is more often nutritionists and physicians who implore us to eat our carrots—not to enhance our vision but to enhance our general health. The carotenes in carrots and many other vegetables work their wonders by destroying oxygen free radicals. This anti-oxidant effect helps fight cancers, enhance immune response, and protect cells against UV radiation.

But when it comes to carotenes, not all carrots are created equal. One of the most widely overlooked factors behind variation in nutrient levels of vegetables is the variety, or cultivar, of the vegetable. Robert Shewfelt, a food scientist at the University of Georgia, reported that carotene levels in any given vegetable often vary by a factor of 20, depending on the cultivar. And it’s usually your local farmers who grow the most nutritious cultivars. So get some great carrots, munch them whole, or try them in a soup, salad, or this light and lively slaw.

Colorful Carrot Slaw

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 pound carrots (any color), peeled and cut into matchsticks
• 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley (or tarragon or herb(s) of your choice)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Buttery crackers, small biscuits or hot, crusty baguettes, for serving.

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Cut carrots into matchstick pieces and transfer to a bowl. Whisk the lemon juice and oil together, pour over carrots, and toss. Add parsley and toss again. Then add salt and pepper to taste.

You can make this light meal in minutes. Just grate the carrots, toss with oil and lemon juice, then put a heaping spoonful on a cracker, biscuit, or crusty, hot bread. Add another drizzle of olive oil, and another pinch of herbs for a mouthwatering treat of contrasting textures and flavors. Who says food can’t be simple, beautiful, healthy, and delicious all at the same time?

NOTES: 

Seasonal Cook’s Notes: Serves 4 as a side dish, or 2 as a main course. The more different varieties of carrots you use, the more delicious, nutritious, and beautiful this slaw will be. You can eat it as a salad, or serve on crackers, biscuits or bread.

Content in this post comes from Farm Fresh Now! a project of The Land Connection and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. 

Soup-A-Bowl: A Community Effort

By Margery Groten

Karl and Cathy display the first round of bowls from which attendees can select.

Fall leaves rustling in the breeze outside, folks gazing at the large table of handmade bowls trying to select one, live music, delicious soups donated by local restaurants, friends talking and laughing, shoppers reviewing exciting silent auction items, a community coming together for a cause—these are the images that come to mind when I think of Poughkeepsie Farm Project’s (PFP) annual Soup-A-Bowl event.  This is the third year I have chaired the committee for Soup-A-Bowl and I continue to be amazed by the dozens of people who pitch in their time, talents, and resources to make Soup-A-Bowl such a success. 

Jamie and Ellie show off their beautiful new bowls!

I work with a committee of dedicated volunteers who make miracles, including my “souper” co-chair Tina Vaitkus.  100% of the proceeds support the charitable and education programs of Poughkeepsie Farm Project.  These programs include donations and subsidies that provide fresh, healthy food for low-income neighbors and positive fresh food learning experiences for urban youth.

Dan Pressler has organized the pottery sessions at Art Centro, a community arts space located in the Middle Main neighborhood of downtown Poughkeepsie, operated by The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center.  Art Centro provides PFP with discounted classes for people who wish to learn how to throw bowls.  Some bowls are made by experienced potters, some by new students.  All 200+ bowls are a community effort, thrown by one person, trimmed by another and glazed by a third.  A shared effort that yields beautiful results!  I have thrown, trimmed and glazed various pots for this event, coming home covered in clay and satisfaction. 

One of the delicious bowls of soup served at Soup-A-Bowl

Committee members reach out to community businesses to secure sponsorships and items for our silent auction and raffle.  Others reach out to local restaurants for donations of soup, bread, beverages and desserts.  Generous local businesses helped to raise over $20,000 last year.

Zinnia Gutowski and Penny Dell organize a rich array of silent auction items that include gift certificates to restaurants, baskets of wine and beer, gift certificates to local shops and personal services and beautiful handmade pottery, glass and art. 

A family enjoys the festivities.

We start in early spring and hundreds of volunteer hours build up to a crescendo on the day of the event.  Cathy Coughlin and her enthusiastic family are at the center of food operations leading up to and on the day of the event.  They arrange the food donations, collect the hot soups from the restaurants, arrange for the delivery of other food items, ensure the food is at proper temperature, coordinate the servers and oversee the cleanup.  The kitchen is run as a professional commercial kitchen and if you can’t take the heat stay out of the kitchen!  Soups range from minestrone, to vegan roasted beet & kale, from lobster bisque to lentil, from eggplant to butternut squash.  The varieties boggle the mind and tickle the palate. 

So many bowls!

This year we are proud to make the event a zero-waste event by using the services of Zero to Go, a zero waste carting company focused on composting, recycling, and waste-reduction education.  We will be composting all of our non-ceramic bowls, cups, flatware, napkins and food waste!

All of the hard work seems so worth it when I know that in 2015 our community donated over 34,000 pounds to our sponsored share families and to emergency food providers.  

Our lead sponsor again this year is Consigli, Inc.  Additional sponsors include:  D’Arcangelo & Co, LLP, Stop and Shop, and Hannaford. We truly appreciate the support of each Soup-A-Bowl sponsor.

Our community comes out for a good cause!

This year the event will be held on October 16th at Vassar Alumnae House.  There are two seatings: 12:00 to 1:30 PM and 2:00 to 3:30 PM, but the first seating has sold out!  Tickets are $35 if purchased before September 30th ($40 after) and $10 for children.  An adult ticket buys you a handmade pottery bowl, three servings of soup and accompaniments (gluten and gluten-free), the chance to participate in a raffle and silent auction, live music and lots of fun!  Last year over 200 people attended—not including the scores of event-day volunteers who make the event run smoothly.

The day of the event is a long day, starting with early set-up by the staff of the Vassar Alumnae House, PFP staff, and volunteers, and ending in the evening after distribution of auction items, tallying of cash, cleanup of the kitchen and dining room, and cheers of delight. 

We thank you and this year's Soup-a-Bowl sponsors: